Mystery called life

“It is amazing that a five year old child can correctly place the musical notes and identify different Ragas effortlessly. The way he was playing the harmonium to accompany his notations, like an expert, was also surprising. He was struggling to even reach the keys properly. How very endearing he was! Leave alone the viewers, even the renowned classical musician who was showcasing the child’s talent was all praise for his unusual talent.” Raghupati was endlessly praising the child whose performance they both had watched in a television program. He and Lakshman had just finished watching the program. Lakshman himself was spell bound and nodded his head in agreement, with a smile on his face. Raghupati added,” this also reminds me of the 9-year-old child who participated ,in a singing talent show whose singing was par excellence and talent was beyond his age. No amount of training in his present life would impart that level of mastery. I believe that it is an endowment from previous birth. I cannot help marveling at the ingenuity of the creator/creation” Lakshman was uncomfortable as he noticed that the topic was changing to a different direction. “But there is no better explanation than this” he thought aloud.

Raghupati and Lakshman were Neighbours and colleagues as well. They worked in the same Government department and had constructed their houses in the same cooperative housing society developed by the department’s employees. They were very close to retirement and would often spend the evenings together, either watching TV in one of their homes or spending time in the garden. Often their discussions would be with light philosophical orientation. While Raghupati was deep into it, Lakshmanan was cautious and would like have a scientific approach and would look for some kind of proof. That is why Raghupati linked the outstanding talent of the child prodigies with the previous birth’s association. Lakshman had nothing to refute it.

It is our belief that the consequences of our good Karma or good deeds or bad Karma are carried to the next life if there is no scope to settle in the present life. This notion is used to support many experiences of individuals which are hard to explain. Both friends would often discuss and debate on this topic.

Several days later, a tragic incidence took place in the Neighbour hood. The only son of one of their colleagues living in the same colony met with a fatal accident. He was an extremely bright young man who had just completed his Engineering and was to leave to USA in few months. A drunken driver hit him and ran away.

Raghupati and Lakshman were very disturbed by the incidence and the day after the incidence , after the last rites for the dead boy were performed, they sat in the garden in one of the houses. After a very long silence, Lakshman spoke. “ Now I understand what karma means. The boy, in spite of being righteous and well behaved, met with an untimely death. His parents are so gentle and good natured and kind. I don’t think they would have harmed a soul in this life, to deserve an untimely death of their only son. This is what is Karma. The repayment of some harm they might have done unknowingly or knowingly in the last life. But look at the luck of the drunken driver, who seems to have escaped after the careless driving ! I feel Karma has been very unfair.” So saying he broke down into tears.

But surprisingly, the driver of the bike could be traced with the help of CCTV footages from nearby locations and was given the due punishment. Everyone felt that justice was delivered. Still how fate conspired such a complicated plot affecting the deceased boy, his parents, drunken driver is beyond human imagination and a subject matter of Raghupati and Lakshman’s endless debates. Karma is not as simple as it is thought to be. Totally unconnected people coming together at a designated place and time to redeem Karma is mysterious. Well, the purpose of human life is to learn the ultimate Truth and Karma theory is also a part of this. Certainly ,the quest will continue because the person who is experiencing the reality from moment to moment has no means to communicate this. (Jiddu Krishnamurti) The ultimate truth can only be experienced by the individual and cannot be explained.